My Fascination with Amy Winehouse

Amy by waytoFall (deviantart)

Every since the news broke about Amy Winehouse's death, every gossip blog, news network, magazine, everyone has given their two cents about the artist. Well, here's mine.

Amy Winehouse was extraordinary. She was the singer with that boozey, passionate voice that made jazz great. Amy had talent, style, and was beyond gorgeous; even with the slightly ridiculous, enlarged eyeliner wing.

Amy knew who she was and who she wanted to become. She was the retro bad-ass beauty that could turn out incredible music and look wicked while doing it. Now, anybody born in the last 16 years has obviously heard their share of Winehouse stories. Her wild partying was to be reckoned with. Of course, that's were most people's 2 pennies went: to her recklessness.

Honestly, when all is said and done, I can't totally blame her. I get that she went overboard a bit. The lifestyle of those in the fast-lane is something I can only imagine, if aspire to. If I was in the shoes of someone like Adele or Gwenyth Paltrow, I'm damned sure that I would want a drink at some point. I'm sure even Oprah has downed a shot on a particularly hard "Favorite Things" episode. Snobbish people tend to stick to the opinion of "I could do better".

Well, could you?



Her partying and addictions are not the point of this entry, please understand that much. The point of this was her talent.

Amy's talent was something of Brittney Spears and Bruno Mars' wildest fantasies. She had a voice well beyond her years, and her lyrics spoke of a depth most modern music can't ever seem to reach. Her album, Back to Black, was nominated for 5 Emmy's; all of which, Amy won.

People have singled out Amy's hit, Rehab, as a cry for help. I beg to differ. I believe the song was less about Amy's choice to abandon/refuse help, but about choices in general; the way a choice can effect a life. Amy was reflecting on her choices, but not entirely bringing the spotlight to her less-than-brilliant ones. Amy defined an era where music still meant something to those that were creating it. When Amy felt something, we all felt something; whether it was a smirk, a grimace, or a little tug at the old heart-strings

Escapades aside, I've wanted to be Amy. I have dreamt about being the girl that everybody likes and respects, but can hold her own and be strong in the arena of life. Obviously, Amy may have taken to much and I feel that society is partly to blame, for alot of celebrity has-beens and mis-haps.

We gave Amy alot of un-needed attention for over-doing it and making a fool of herself. I'm almost positive that she wasn't proud of it and didn't mean to go that far! To her, it must have been like that crazy child-hood dream we have when your at school, but you didn't put on your pants that morning. Then, a picture of you in your lucky space-teddy undies (don't laugh!) appears in the school paper the following day. It's one of those "oh God, why me?" moments.

So, as I listen to my worn-out copy of Back to Black, and look at the picture of her above, I wonder what she was thinking there. Was she excited for something? Scared or angry? Maybe she was filled with pride, but was modestly trying not to reveal it?

I also wonder what was going through Amy's mind on her last day. She couldn't have known that was it! There is just this aching thought in the back of my mind, the pounding urge to know what was going through her mind, what she did, what music she listened to, on her last day.

All that is left to say, as Valerie flows through the speakers, is that it's making me smile a little bit more. This song was supremely her; Amy Winehouse is written in neon lights all over it! Bruno Mars and his lighters can go off into their corner, because his cover can't hold a flame to Amy.

Let's just leave it at Miss Amy Winehouse will never be replaced and the music business will be doing 360's in it's grave at a million miles an hour trying to find the next Amy.

I believe it will be hard to recover the era of Black.

Until next time, all!

Carie Lea

listen to Amy's song Valerie here

listen to Amy's song Rehab here